Friday, 7 September 2012

Throughout my pregnancy I've been paying extra attention to the products I used in my body an skincare regime, avoiding GM ingredients, synthetic colours, fragrances and parabens. In the last couple of months I've been trying ad testing a few selected pregnancy body treatments from the makers of my favourite beauty products. I hope you will enjoy this honest account of my experience and that you or a pregnant friend of yours gets to enjoy one of these amazing treatments.

What?

Pre Natal Treatment

Where?

ESPA life at Corinthia Hotel

For who?

For your friend that deserves a little more than just a massage

How much?

90 mins £165

Tell me more...

This treatment is a pampering and nourishing full body treatment designed to target areas prone to stress and tension during pregnancy, so don't expect "just" a massage. It all kicks off with an in depth consultation with your therapist(which I found really useful as I get a bit nervous about pregnancy treatments and want to know that the right moves and products are applied). This is your chance to tell your therapist if you've had any aches and pains and if there are any areas of your body you want her to concentrate on. Throughout there is a real sense that this treatment is being tweaked to your needs. Then you sit up on a large bed, propped up with as many pillows as you need (which I found really comfy as I haven't been able to lie on my back late in pregnancy because I get dizzy)and a gentle body exfoliation is followed by a nourishing full body massage using a fabulous combination of oil and a moisture-rich body mask which leaves your skin feeling completely soft and rejuvenated. Finally, my favourite: a truly relaxing mind and body scalp massage using their famous Scalp Mud.

Products I loved:

I'm a huge ESPA products lover and have been using the Nourishing Body Oil throughout my pregnancy. Other products used in the treatment that I loved are the Pink Hair and Scalp Mud, Exfoliating Body Polish and Replenishing Face Moisturiser.

That little bit extra...

I loved the changing rooms: you get your own private corner with mirrored dressing table, locker and shower + access to a full range of ESPA products. It's a bit like being in a 1950's Hollywood movie set with marbled floors, sumptuous chandeliers and just about the biggest shower heads I have ever seen. When booked in you also get access to the "chill out" room decked out with your own private couch cubicle, fire place, duvet and blankets where you can snuggle up and.. fall asleep!

Nit picking...

A huge spa facility spread over four floors (most underground), so not for you if you are looking for a cosy day lit experience. Some of the floor decor is a bit masculine for my taste. Treatments are expensive so make a really good gift if you are a group and wanting to treat a friend.

I love AA product philosophy and that's what drew me to trying out a treatment herein the first place.

In their BATH, BODY AND SKINCARE they do not use:

Mineral or sulphonated oils which can block the performance of the essential oils

GM ingredients

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)

Petrolatum

Propylene Glycol

Synthetic colours or fragrance

Parabens

Ingredients that have been tested on animals – and we don’t test our finished products on animals

Animal derivatives, except for silk and beeswax, which are animal by-products.

I opted for a classic pregnancy body massage and it was a gorgeously relaxing experience, like a big calming hug. This massage is designed to "relieve stress and tension, ease the heavy feeling that can come with pregnancy, and help ease an aching back. Finally, a relaxing and rejuvenating full scalp and facial massage will complement this top to toe treatment". In the initial consultation the therapist tailor-makes the treatment targeted to your own individual needs starting by letting you choose the body oil used for your massage. She'll let you smell three different scents (without telling you what they are, but all completely safe to use during pregnancy), this because you are supposedly drawn to the essential oil your body actually needs. I went for rose oil, nourishing and regenerating. The therapy rooms are small and cosy, you get propped up with pillows and covered with luxe duvet.. and then get ready to fall asleep. I did!

Therapist:

Christina

Products I loved:

I loved the nourishing smell of the Renew Rose Massage and Body Oil used in my treatment which also left my skin feeling very soft. During my final scalp massage Christina also used a dash of De-Stress Frankincense Pure Essential Oil which was really fresh and regenerating. I ended up buying it because I thought it would have an uplifting effect during labour and added to my hospital bag.

That little bit extra...

After my massage I was invited to chill out in the relaxation area, while I was served complimentary black rose tea and savoured rose and cream macaroons, raisins and roasted almonds... Felt totally spoiled! Also I love it when you leave a treatment with a few samples to try at home. I was given a cute little box with products recommended by my therapist.

My lovely post-massage pick me up

Samples to try at home

Nit picking...

A little on the expensive side, wish it was £20 cheaper so you wouldn't think of it twice before booking.

The first thing I want to say about this treatment is that pregnancy/position wise it was the most comfortable one. Getting a massage when you are heavily pregnant is a completely different experience than when you don't have a huge bump. For once you can't really lie flat on your back because your baby will press on your lungs and make you feel dizzy , so getting comfy can be really trick as you have to keep on moving from side to side and prop up with pillows. At Elemis they had a huge bean bag on the floor (so no trying to get up and down a high bed) which shapes up around you, divine! So I was really at my most comfortable. The treatment entails a "Nurturing full body massage followed by the deeply relaxing Frangipani Body Nourish Dry Float where you sink down into the warm dry floatation bed that allows you to experience the almost weightless state known as passive immersion, inducing complete relaxation of the joints and muscles without getting wet".

Therapist:

Jenny

Products I loved:

I loved the subtle smell of the Exotic Frangipani Monoi Body Oil used for my treatment.

That little bit extra...

You don't really get any extras per se but you are truly taken care of from the moment you walk in and you get a real sense that the therapist are experts at what they do. I loved Jenny's ways and her knowledge about the treatment and the products she used on me. Getting massaged later on in your pregnancy can be a little uncomfortable but I felt totally at ease and in experts hands.

Nit picking...

I must admit I didn't love the floating experience, mainly because I couldn't get comfortable lying on my back. I would love to try it again as non pregnant as it must be amazing, but during pregnancy I would recommend just the massage which was probably my favorite of all. Also the overall decor of the SPA is in need of a modernsasition as it looks a bit dated.

This treatment does exactly what is says on the box. Described as a "bump-friendly version of the beloved Blissage75 that uses massage techniques and Mama Mio products to help maxed out mommies-to-be relax while relieving 40-week woes like tired miscles, tension, swelling, overstretched and itchy skin, and sluggish circulation."

Therapist:

Elodie

Products I loved:

I didn't love the Mama Mio massage oil they used on me but as you probably know by now I'm a huge Bliss Spa products lover, so if you happen to be in store here are some of my fav buys (which I actually picked up for a friend on the day).

Oh where do I start! First of all it's worth getting to Bliss Spa a little early to use their changing room facilities. There are huge showers and you can use a wide range of their body and skincare products. Then as you wait in the "blue room" for your thereapist you are presented with cheese and bisquits platter and offered the best bite size chocolate brownies you will ever eat. I just LOVE the concept of choc brownies at a SPA. True bliss! I also love the music selection in the treatment rooms, a mix of Nora Jones, Etta James, Jack Johnosn... there's no new age nonsense at Bliss it's just all so tongue and cheek at Bliss you just can't resist it!

Nit picking...

The beds are high, short and narrow, not great for getting comfy with a bump.

About WIT

First of all, I'm a stylist and Wearing It Today is a challenge. Styling models for a shoot is one thing but trying to look good in every day life is quite another. I have to work a lot harder. WIT is a little peek into a stylist’s wardrobe. It's the answer to a whole lot of: "Where's that from?" It's me putting in the groundwork and testing out trends for everyday life. But it is also an opportunity to share brilliant finds, styling tips, and search out inspiration that you can make your own. There will be good, there will be bad and there may even be ugly... Take what you like, and leave the rest behind.

This week inThe ICONS Update

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